Día: some history

Pat Mora

6th annual DiapaloozaFrom Pat’s History of Día: April 2016 is Día’s 20th anniversary. In 1996, while being interviewed for a public radio program at the University of Arizona in Tucson, I first learned about the annual Mexican tradition of celebrating April 30th as El día del niño, the Day of the Child. As a mom I knew that children often ask, “Why do we have Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and not Children’s Day?” As a reader, I wanted (and want) to foster bookjoy. Ah ha, I thought. What if we link a celebration of children with literacy, an issue central to the well-being of children? Read more, and enjoy our visual history.

Spring 1996 - Pat is zapped by the Día idea

April is National Poetry Month

Pat Mora

6th annual DiapaloozaInaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month, held every April, is the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

National Poetry Month

Cheers for the Día Dynamos

Pat Mora

6th annual DiapaloozaIt wouldn’t be Díapalooza without pausing to celebrate our Día Dynamos, those literacy advocates throughout the U.S. who for years have invested significant time and creative energy on Día or who are expanding Día’s impact in innovative ways. These Dynamos, outstanding resources for others working in similar positions, are pioneers in honoring cultures and languages and in creatively reaching out to all children and families to promote bookjoy.

We recently welcomed our newest Día Dynamo, Pat Smith, the Executive Director of the Texas Library Association. With over 7,000 members, TLA is the largest state library association in the country. Pat has been an enthusiastic and loyal Día supporter for many years.

Dia Advocates A-Z poster